Ruger American Predator .223 hit or miss?

Status
Not open for further replies.
So true! That magazine is detestable, even more in the coldest weather.
I used to slide mine into the rotary mag when I first got it but I noticed hickok45 just push feeds his. It works pretty good. Just push it down from the top like an AR mag...
 
i have the Ruger American Ranch in 5.56. it has exceeded my expectations. even shoots Cheap wolf at about 1 inch. love that it takes AR mags. I have 5 rounders i use for it
 
Was looking for a mid range, economical target/range gun with moa accuracy. Might also serve as a deer rifle for my daughter to learn with if she is adamant about pursuing it and maintains interest.

It seems quality is, or at least was very hit or miss and I read a pretty dismal review from ChuckHawks and the two test rifles sent for review were total duds back to back with no resolution from Ruger.

I was just wondering what the consensus is on them here because I know quite a few of you guys have them. I'm specifically looking for input on the .223 variant. I'm hoping the handful of negative reviews I read were just the results of a glitch in QC. Often times these problems get sorted out...verdict?

FWIW, here is Chuck Hawks review: https://www.chuckhawks.com/ruger_american_predator.html This isn't just Chuck's opinion, even Ruger said the two he got were lemons. Personally I stay clear of Ruger after a similar experience.
 
Last edited:
FWIW, here is Chuck Hawks review: https://www.chuckhawks.com/ruger_american_predator.html This isn't just Chuck's opinion, even Ruger said the two he got were lemons. Personally I stay clear of Ruger after a similar experience.
I've always, always wanted a Ryger M77 Hawkeye. Specifically an all weather stainless one. But I have heard from many people that they just aren't shooters. My uncle has one in 30 06 and it generally shoots 2-3 moa with a VX-III on it, idk if that's just because my uncle just calls it minute of deer good to go or not but the only thing that has stopped me from fulfilling my decades old wish gun is that they are inherently inaccurate.

I know they are probably great deer rifles but if I spend $750-$900 on a bolt gun I need it to be "inherently accurate". Something about the look, the action, everything about it. Feels like you could run it over with a tank. I just wont buy one, for now.
 
I've always, always wanted a Ryger M77 Hawkeye. Specifically an all weather stainless one. But I have heard from many people that they just aren't shooters. My uncle has one in 30 06 and it generally shoots 2-3 moa with a VX-III on it, idk if that's just because my uncle just calls it minute of deer good to go or not but the only thing that has stopped me from fulfilling my decades old wish gun is that they are inherently inaccurate.

I know they are probably great deer rifles but if I spend $750-$900 on a bolt gun I need it to be "inherently accurate". Something about the look, the action, everything about it. Feels like you could run it over with a tank. I just wont buy one, for now.

It's nothing new, even the old Ruger #1s were hit or miss as far as accuracy, as were the Mini-14s when they came out. If some on this thread got a good one, great, but I'll pass. My last Ruger experience was with an LCP that went back to the factory several times for unreliability before they gave up and sent me a refund. They were jerky about it too, telling me I needed to try several kinds of factory ammo, this at the height of the ammo shortage when you couldn't get any .380. I'm sorry, a new gun should work with ANY factory ammo.

For $750-900, get a Tikka and have money left over, I haven't heard of any bad ones.
 
It's nothing new, even the old Ruger #1s were hit or miss as far as accuracy, as were the Mini-14s when they came out. If some on this thread got a good one, great, but I'll pass. My last Ruger experience was with an LCP that went back to the factory several times for unreliability before they gave up and sent me a refund. They were jerky about it too, telling me I needed to try several kinds of factory ammo, this at the height of the ammo shortage when you couldn't get any .380. I'm sorry, a new gun should work with ANY factory ammo.

For $750-900, get a Tikka and have money left over, I haven't heard of any bad ones.
That's just it. Some being worse or more frequent than others, but everybody has different experiences. My experience with Ruger is mostly fine. Have had an LCP for about a decade, cant say I've shot it a ton but it has never jammed. All kinds of ammo, even steel case a couple times. Handful of ruger 10/22s, great reliability and accuracy. Had Ryger P95, hated the trigger but it was one of the most accurate 9mm handguns I ever shot. I never owned the SR9 but I shot one plenty and while it wasnt for me, it was crazy, impressively accurate.

All it takes for me though usually is one bad experience with CS and I'm all done....
 
I've always, always wanted a Ryger M77 Hawkeye. Specifically an all weather stainless one. But I have heard from many people that they just aren't shooters. My uncle has one in 30 06 and it generally shoots 2-3 moa with a VX-III on it, idk if that's just because my uncle just calls it minute of deer good to go or not but the only thing that has stopped me from fulfilling my decades old wish gun is that they are inherently inaccurate.

I know they are probably great deer rifles but if I spend $750-$900 on a bolt gun I need it to be "inherently accurate". Something about the look, the action, everything about it. Feels like you could run it over with a tank. I just wont buy one, for now.

The poor accuracy of the ruger 77 keeps cropping up, especially lately on THR.

Ruger hasn't had this issue in nearly 20 years. I have 3. 2 stainless and a lh blued.

I have admittedly only shot my 2 ss versions but both are accurate. The 308 is Very accurate.

The Hawkeye has become my favorite rifle but I have to admit they are priced a bit higher than I think they should be. That is my only complaint.
 
Last edited:
I started my firearm ownership with a 77/22 at age 12 or 13. Short range accuracy was far better than I was even with the cheap Simmons 4x and it was not until I put some real time behind the trigger that its accuracy problems began to show. On inspection a local smith showed me the button chatter marks that were easily visible once the barrel was cleaned professionally and I sold the rifle never realizing a free trip back to Ruger would likely have solved my woes.

I was 20, I regret it to this day, and I have yet to experience a problem with any Ruger since. 4 10/22s, a MkII, Single-Six Convertible, Wrangler, RAP, SP101, GP100; all good as was my singular CS experience in purchasing my Compact stock. I also recall my uncle’s 77 Mountain Rifle cracking a stock that dried out after a decade without care. Mailed, replaced, and returned free.
 
I just hope in a general sense that I dont ever have to deal with a Ruger customer service issue where I have to send it in.

Some may find this odd, but I once contacted ruger about a small issue with one of my Ruger rifles. I had expected they would have me bring the rifle right to them because they are a 30 minute drive, they would not as I recall allow me to bring it to them but rather bring it to a gunsmith/gun shop in the town of newport.

The problem was I had previously run afoul with the gunsmith I was to bring the rifle into. Long story short I had a Mauser that I bought for $100 and I'd asked him to drill and tap it for me. All in he said it would be around $100 to do, $200 if I wanted bases and rings.

He called me 8 months later as I was asked not to call him, he would call me when he was good and ready, anyway he calls me and tells me I owe a shade under $500. To cut to the chase I forfeited the rifle because I determined it was better to forfeit $100 and a cool rifle than to be raked over good on $500 bucks. Needless to say I didnt get my ruger in for service. I know I could have very well shipped it easily enough but I didnt have a way to print off the pre paid shipping label and it just went to the back burner, that's just how it goes sometime...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top